READING, Pa. – The Messiah women's track and field team competed in its first indoor competition of the 2022 new year on Saturday in the Alvernia Winter Invite at Alvernia University. The Falcons' efforts were strong throughout the whole competition, highlighted by a winning 4x200m relay team of
Claire Miller,
Ellie Longshaw,
Halle Jennett, and
Elena Vargas, finishing with a time of 1:52.88. In addition to the relay victory,
Esther Seeland (9:54.15) and
Kate Dickow (10:48.47) finished first and second in the 3000m, respectively. Seeland's time in the 3000m was a new program record and is currently the seventh-fastest mark in the country this season.
Seeland also competed in the 400m, placing second with an impressive overall time of 59.56.
Miller turned in solid performance in the 60m hurdles, finishing with a time of 10.45s. The time was the third-best mark in the first heat of the event. Longshaw recorded a time of 8.23s in the 60m, finishing second in the second heat, the seventh-best time 72 runners.
Three Falcons issued strong performances in the 400m. Seeland led the way for the Falcons, finishing second overall with a time of 59.56, while
Emma Graybill (1:04.26) and
Cassidy Chandler (1:05.72) each ran well, as Chandler's time is a new season-best by nearly three seconds (1:08.46).
Both
Kirsten Howland and
Sarah Bath represented Messiah in the 5000m. Howland (20:35.96) placed fourth overall as Bath (20:36.75) placed fifth overall as both runners improved on their 5000m time from the Falcons' first indoor competition back in December.
In the 1-mile,
Chloe Wester (5:38.55) and
Kathleen Walstrom (5:42.18) recorded quality finishes. In a field of 37 total runners, Wester placed eighth overall while Walstrom finished 11th.
In the 3000m, out of a field of 24 runners,
Teddi Powell turned in a time of 11:31.15, finishing eighth overall.
Messiah competed strong in the field events as well.
Cadee Wood vaulted to a height of 2.75m in the pole vault event, placing 11th out of 24 competitors. In the high jump,
Emily Gourley achieved a fourth-place finish after leaping to a height of 1.53m.
Leah Ferster represented the Falcons in the shot put, achieving a distance of 9.47m.
What's Next
The Falcons travel to Franklin & Marshall College next Friday, Jan. 28, to compete in the Little Dip Invitational.
